People are being encouraged to check they are not missing out on extra money and to find out if they could be eligible for any of the benefits administered by Social Security Scotland - some of which are only available in Scotland.
The benefits, which have been introduced over the past four years, are available to people on low incomes responsible for children under 16, those who need help paying for a funeral, people living with a disability, carers, young people entering the workplace and householders needing help to heat their homes.
The good news is that four of these payments are made automatically to people in receipt of other qualifying benefits. To make sure people are maximising their income, Social Security Scotland also suggests that people should check what benefits they may be entitled to from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Payments made automatically include Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Child Winter Heating Payment as well as Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and Best Start Grant School Age Payment for those in receipt of Scottish Child Payment. In addition, the new Winter Heating Payment will be paid automatically to an expected 400,000 people across Scotland when it is introduced in February.
Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said: “January is traditionally a month where people find it harder financially than the rest of the year. This pressure can be more acute for people on low incomes or who face additional costs due to a disability or ill-health condition. The cost of living crisis also means that people are facing difficult financial decisions day in and day out.”
He continued: “Where people need to apply, we are working hard to promote these payments and make the process of accessing them as straightforward as possible. Social Security Scotland works with partners and through advertising to promote our benefits and our next campaign will start this month to encourage parents and carers to apply for Scottish Child Payment.”
People can apply for all the benefits online, by phone, through the post or in person. Eligible families, and carers can find out more and apply for social security payments at scot/benefits or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.
The Scottish Government’s Cost Of Living website provides information and support for people who need urgent help with money, food or fuel - find out more here.
When all benefits have been introduced and clients safely and securely transferred from the DWP, Social Security Scotland will administer 17 benefits supporting around two million children and adults - more than one in three people in Scotland.
Thirteen benefits and payments unique to Scotland
The benefits delivered by Social Security Scotland are listed below.
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment
This is a one-off payment of up to £642.35 from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby turns six months for families who get certain benefits - find out more here.
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment
This is a one-off payment of £267.65 when a child is between two and three years and six months for families who get certain benefits - find out more here.
Best Start Grant School Age Payment
This is a one-off payment of £267.65 when a child would normally start primary one for families who get certain benefits - find out more here.
Best Start Foods
This is a pre-paid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns three for families on certain benefits to help buy healthy food - find out more here.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement
This is an automatic payment made twice a year to people who get Carer’s Allowance through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on certain dates each year - find out more here.
Funeral Support Payment
This is money towards the costs of a funeral at a difficult time like this for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral. The current average payout is £1,800 - find out more here.
Job Start Payment
This is a one-off payment of £267.65 for 16 to 24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for six months or more to help with the costs of starting a job - find out more here.
Young Carer Grant
This is an annual payment of £326.65 for people 16, 17 or 18 who care for people who get a disability benefit from the DWP for an average of 16 hours a week or more - find out more here.
Child Winter Heating Assistance
This is an annual payment of £214.10 to help families of a child on the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance for Children to heat their homes - find out more here.
Scottish Child Payment
This is a payment of £25 per week per child - £100 every four weeks - to help towards the costs of looking after each child under 16 for families who get certain benefits - find out more here.
Child Disability Payment
This is extra money - up to the value of £627.60 every four weeks - to help with the costs of caring for a child with a disability or ill-health condition. It replaces Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland that was previously delivered by the DWP - find out more here.
Adult Disability Payment
This is extra money - up to the value of £627.60 every four weeks - to help people who have a long-term illness or a disability that affects their everyday life. It replaces Personal Independence Payment people in Scotland previously delivered by the DWP - find out more here.
Winter Heating Payment - coming in February
This is a new annual payment of £50 to help people on low income benefits who might have extra heating needs during the winter. It replaces the Cold Weather Payment delivered by DWP - find out more here.
To find out more about any of the benefits or payments, or to apply visit Social Security Scotland online here or contact them on 0800 182 2222.
To keep up to date with the latest cost of living news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out four times each week - sign up here.
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